2007-07-12 10:20:15 · 6 answers · asked by BB 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The vast majority of asteroids are found within the main asteroid belt, with elliptical orbits between those of Mars and Jupiter. It is thought that these asteroids are remnants of the protoplanetary disc, and in this region the incorporation of protoplanetary remnants into the planets was prevented by large gravitational perturbations induced by Jupiter during the formative period of the solar system.
2007-07-12 10:23:57 · answer #1 · answered by jsardi56 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Asteroids are mostly rock, a few metals - left over from creation of the solar system... By & large, it's believed that Jupiter's influence herded the rocks into the approximate orbit in between Jupiter & Mars, and also prevented another planet from forming in that region.
2007-07-12 17:35:37 · answer #2 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Asteroids are the explosive residue of planets and /or stars formed during what is often referred to as THE BIG BANG! These chunks of mostly ferrous rocks are stuck in perpetual orbits around planets and stars in what are referred to as asteroid belts. Every so often they will individually move too close to our earth's atmosphere, enter it as a result of gravitational attraction, then hurl through the atmosphere at great velocity, usually burning up in the process. Often they can be viewed at night in a cloudless Southern sky, being referred to as "shooting stars".
2007-07-12 17:36:41 · answer #3 · answered by SALVADOR G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Asteroids are a result of the creation of our Solar System, whatever the Sun did not suck up, it blew it away.
2007-07-12 17:24:18 · answer #4 · answered by A.R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Left over material of the accretion disc that the solar system formed from.
2007-07-16 09:46:11 · answer #5 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LEFTOVER SOLIDS. Not enough, not close enough to accrete into a planet -- yet.
2007-07-12 17:40:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋